Odometer reset mechanism

ABSTRACT

A pinion attached to a shaft of an odometer engages a segment pivoted to one side of a speedometer casing. Said segment is forced to rotate by pulling foreward a cable connected to the segment against the action of a spring whereby one complete rotation of the shaft is made to effect resetting of the odometer.

United States Patent Inoue 1 Dec. 18, 1973 [54] ODOMETER RESET MECHANISM 1,321,609 11/1919 Eek 78/89.19 [76] Inventor: Shiro Inoue, 26, 2-2-chome,

Kashiwaza, Age), Japan Primary Examiner--Charles J. Myhre Filed: p 9 Assistant ExaminerF. D. Shoemaker Appl. No.: 243,581

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1912 Furber 74/89.l9 X

Attorney-Charles E. Temko [57] ABSTRACT A pinion attached to a shaft of an odometer engages a segment pivoted to one side of a speedometer casing. Said segment is forced to rotate by pulling foreward a cable connected to the segment against the action of a spring whereby one complete rotation of the shaft is made to effect resetting of the odometer.

1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTED DECI 81975 /q h m Flaiz ODOMETER RESET MECHANISM This invention relates to a reset mechanism of an odometer such as is usually associated with the speedometer of a motor vehicle.

It has been known to reset the odometer by manipulating a reset stern so as to rotate the shaft of the odometer on which a number of figure wheels are loosely mounted, but such an operation is tedious and has the defect of over-rotation,

This invention has for its object the avoidance of the above defect. This invention will be understood from the following description.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a speedometer of a motor vehicle showing in detail the odometer reset mechanism and,

FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1 but in another position of said reset mechanism.

Referring by reference characters to the drawings, numeral 1 is a casing of a speedometer, 2 is a conventional speedometer needle, 3 is a trip odometer, 23 is a total odometer, and 24 is a flexible shaft for driving the magnetic operating mechanism of the speedometer as well as odometers 3 and 23.

At one side of casing l, a segment is mounted on a pivot 6. The teeth 5 of said segment 5 engage a pinion 4 fixed to one end of the shaft of the odometer 3. The segment 5 tends to rotate clockwise by the action of a spring 7 attached to the lower end of said segment. 1 1 is a foreward protruding tube in which a rod 12 having a knob 13 is slidably inserted. The inner end of said rod is fastened to a cable 8 attached to the lower end of the segment 5. The cable 8 is sufficiently tightened so t n .b .4 to th roatopenies 9f th tube 11.

9 is a roller for guiding the cable 8 and 10 is V- formed piece attached to the segment 5 to hold the cable from touching the segment at rest (FIGJ To reset the odometer, the knob 13 is pulled fore- 5 ward as shown by the arrow F against the action of the spring 7.

Then, the segment 5 rotates counter-clockwise until it engages a stop 14 (FIG.2). The gear ratio between the segment 5 and pinion 4 is so chosen that the pinion 4 together with the shaft of the odometer 3 can make ione complete rotation by the action of the segment whereby all the figure wheels mounted on the shaft are picked up one after another from whatever position they occupy in the course of a single complete rotation of the shaft and when all are engaged, similar figures on the several Wheels are in alignment. These details are not shown, being old and well known.

After resetting, set free the knob 13, then all the parts return to the initial position as shown in FIG.] by the action of the spring 7.

As is clear from the above, by simply pulling the knob 13 forewardly, the odometer can be reset quickly and without over-rotation.

What I claim:

1. Odometer reset mechanism comprising a pinion attached to the shaft of said odometer, a gear segment engaging said pinion and pivoted to one side of a speedometer casing and held from counterclockwise rotation by the action of a spring means, a tube protruding from inside said casing, a rod slidably inserted in said tube, a cable stretching between the lower portion of said gear segment and the inner end of said rod, whereby pulling releasing said rod will cause said odometer to be reset. 

1. Odometer reset mechanism comprising a pinion attached to the shaft of said odometer, a gear segment engaging said pinion and pivoted to one side of a speedometer casing and held from counterclockwise rotation by the action of a spring means, a tube protruding from inside said casing, a rod slidably inserted in said tube, a cable stretching between the lower portion of said gear segment and the inner end of said rod, whereby pulling releasing said rod will cause said odometer to be reset. 